TY - JOUR
T1 - Temporal relationship between cognitive and physical performance in middle-aged to oldest old people
AU - Stijntjes, Marjon
AU - Aartsen, Marja J.
AU - Taekema, Diana G.
AU - Gussekloo, Jacobijn
AU - Huisman, Martijn
AU - Meskers, Carel G.M.
AU - De Craen, Anton J.M.
AU - Maier, Andrea B.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Background: Cognitive and physical impairment frequently co-occur in older people. The aim of this study was to assess the temporal order of these age-related changes in cognitive and physical performance and to assess whether a relationship was different across specific cognitive and physical domains and age groups. Methods: Cognitive domains included global, executive, and memory function; physical domains included gait speed and handgrip strength. These domains were assessed in two population-based longitudinal cohorts covering the age ranges of 55-64, 65-74, 75-85, and 85-90 years with a follow-up of 5-12 years. Cross-lagged panel models were applied to assess the temporal relationships between the different cognitive and physical domains adjusting for age, sex, education, comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. Results: Over all age groups, poorer executive function was associated with a steeper decline in gait speed (p < .05). From the age of 85 years, this relationship was found across all cognitive and physical domains (p < .02). From the age of 65 years, slower gait speed and/or weaker handgrip strength were associated with steeper declines in global cognitive function (p < .02), with statistically significant results across all cognitive domains in the age group of 75-85 years (p < .04). Conclusions: The temporal relationship between cognitive and physical performance differs across domains and age, suggesting a specific rather than a general relationship. This emphasizes the importance of repeated measurements on different domains and encourages future research to the development of domain-and age-specific interventions.
AB - Background: Cognitive and physical impairment frequently co-occur in older people. The aim of this study was to assess the temporal order of these age-related changes in cognitive and physical performance and to assess whether a relationship was different across specific cognitive and physical domains and age groups. Methods: Cognitive domains included global, executive, and memory function; physical domains included gait speed and handgrip strength. These domains were assessed in two population-based longitudinal cohorts covering the age ranges of 55-64, 65-74, 75-85, and 85-90 years with a follow-up of 5-12 years. Cross-lagged panel models were applied to assess the temporal relationships between the different cognitive and physical domains adjusting for age, sex, education, comorbidity, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. Results: Over all age groups, poorer executive function was associated with a steeper decline in gait speed (p < .05). From the age of 85 years, this relationship was found across all cognitive and physical domains (p < .02). From the age of 65 years, slower gait speed and/or weaker handgrip strength were associated with steeper declines in global cognitive function (p < .02), with statistically significant results across all cognitive domains in the age group of 75-85 years (p < .04). Conclusions: The temporal relationship between cognitive and physical performance differs across domains and age, suggesting a specific rather than a general relationship. This emphasizes the importance of repeated measurements on different domains and encourages future research to the development of domain-and age-specific interventions.
KW - Dynamic relationship
KW - Executive function
KW - Gait speed
KW - Handgrip strength
KW - Memory function
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw133
DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw133
M3 - Article
C2 - 27481882
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 72
SP - 662
EP - 668
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 5
ER -